Inside Conflict: What Does Research Reveal About Women's Rights and Changing Gender Roles in Yemen?

Jul 24, 2017 | Suzy Madigan
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Until the acceleration of violence in 2015, women in Yemen were making some headway in challenging a system that largely excludes them from public life. But since 2015, war has impacted not only on their security and health, but also on the political spaces in which they can negotiate for empowerment. And as movement towards greater equality slow down, so too does the better protection from violence which accompanies it. So how can we break this vicious downward cycle?

War targets everyone – whether you are a man or woman, girl or boy, life in Yemen is tough. But while air strikes and cholera do not discriminate by sex, your gender can determine other ways in which your life is threatened. As a man you are at greater risk of forced recruitment into an armed group or being killed while fighting. As a woman you are more likely to suffer rape, domestic violence, early marriage, kidnap, denial of resources, or having your movements restricted – life-threatening in itself if you or your children are starving.